Ikaros Beach, Luxury Resort & Spa - Adults Only

Scenario – A mid 60s couple who wanted an all-inclusive break before Christmas. Reviews – We obviously read what had been written. They were mainly positive but the negative ones were very negative. The reviewers had to try hard to find something to complain about. My thoughts – The hotel is great. Even the layout, along the lines of a Greek village, is relaxing. I was still finding new routes after a week. The food is very varied and interesting. We didn’t try the optional restaurants as the food in the main one was more than sufficient in variety. The staff are all genuinely friendly. They help you because they want you to have a nice time. Not just for a tip. All Inclusive. You don’t have a wrist band. You are given a receipt with each order that you fill in and can add a tip if you want. We just enclosed some cash at the end of the week. The place is spotless. The cleaners soon work out when you go to breakfast and try and do the room while you are away. We were there in the last week of the season. The sea was very rough but the hotel has its own lifeguard monitoring the beach. You are warned if you go too far out I had a sauna and borrowed a bicycle - all part of the AI.

Didn't get off to great start as the bungalow was a bit dark and dingy and the lay out wasn't great. We were moved to another which was better but still smaller than what we'd expected, the pictures are quite deceiving. The air con was effective but not modern and was a bit noisy but sufficient. There are plenty of pool areas and we always got a sunbed. Being next to the private beach was great, lovely sand and sea. The grounds of the hotel were really nice with some great views. The buffet food was good, as you'd expect though the desserts were a bit samey. The Sunset restaurant was brilliant, lovely Asian food and what a view of the sunset. My wife had been having Aperol Spritz all week as was included in the all inclusive package, only to be told on the last day, you'd have to pay as was taken out of the package. Even though the app still said it was included, strange decision. The AI drinks are limited. The staff were good but we've had better service in a true 5 star. We thought the lack of air con in the main restaurant was shocking for a 5 star, very hot in the middle of August. The gym was fine, had a few weight machines, cardio and good selection of dumbbell weights. All in all a relaxing holiday, nice food, lovely grounds, pools were good, just a bit let down with the room and air con situation.

I received the Cretan massage with a body scrub and this was hands down the best service I have ever received. Dimitra is very skilled and accommodating. I highly recommend this facility and this service. Thank you so much for providing such a relaxing environment and amazing services!

After spending five days at this beachfront resort in Crete, I came away with mixed feelings. The property certainly knows how to make a stunning first impression - you'll fall in love with the gorgeous gardens and elegant common areas. The food was a genuine highlight of our stay, with delightful themed dinners that took us on a culinary journey through Greek, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines each evening. What We Loved: The breathtaking grounds and gardens that made every walk through the resort a pleasure Truly impressive dining options with fresh, varied dishes that kept surprising us Convenient spa facilities included in the stay Perfect location for exploring local shops and authentic taverns Where They Missed the Mark: Room experience that unfortunately didn't live up to the resort's elegant exterior A frustrating room journey: we started with a view of AC units, moved to a room with broken air conditioning, and finally settled in an upgraded room Puzzling design choices: most balconies face interior walkways rather than the beautiful Mediterranean, leaving you with neither views nor privacy Interior rooms felt somewhat gloomy with their grey-white color scheme and limited natural light - not quite the bright, airy Greek island experience we'd hoped for Several service hiccups: our automatic car rental turned out to be manual, and the guest relations team seemed limited to Google searches when we asked for local recommendations (leading us to an olive oil tasting when we'd asked about wine!) The indoor pool and jacuzzi were surprisingly chilly for a spa facility